WSOLC – Western Seminary Online Campus
Course Number: PTS 508E – Spring 2015
Course Title: Developing Strong Families
Instructor: Mark Belokonny, D.Min.
Lectures by: Gary Thomas, D.D.
Credit Hours: 2
COURSE SCHEDULE
This course is offered in both an 8 and a 16 week schedule. You can see a “Course Schedule by Week” in this syllabus. After enrollment in the course you can see a course schedule with specific dates in the learning center for your assignments.
COURSE PURPOSE
This course will explore theological principles that should inform Christian family dynamics and their practical outworking. We’ll critique contemporary views and expectations of marriage and parenting, and develop models of ministry with which to strengthen Christian families. 2 credit hours.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The divine design for marriage and family roles and responsibilities is explored in order that the Christian leader may reflect and model godliness in these important relationships. Attention is given to improving both one’s own faithfulness and equipping one to provide counsel and spiritual nurture in such areas as pre-marital counseling, marital counseling and parenting.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course the:
1.Student will be able to articulate a biblical and theological understanding of marriage and family that promotes generational gospel transformation.
2. Student will be able to identify the contemporary issues and cultural influences that challenge the development of gospel-centered marriages and families.
3. Student will develop a strategic ministry plan for cultivating strong marriages and biblically-basedparentingskills in the local church and broader community.
4. Student will identify and assess his/her individual journey toward experiencing a strong Christian marriage, developing biblically-based parenting skills and determine needed growth steps to take on that journey.
TextBOOKS
- Read the following texts:
Dennis Rainey, Ministering to Twenty-First Century Families. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 2001. ISBN: 978-0849913594. MSRP: $29.99.
Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2002. ISBN: 978-0310242826. MSRP: $14.99.
Timothy Keller & Kathy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage. New York: Dutton, 2011. ISBN 978-0-525-95247-3. MSRP: $25.95.
Important Note: Required and recommended course texts are subject to change at any time. You are encouraged to purchase these titles through the Amazon.com associate program; you may use the links provided above, or the search option found on the Western website under “Students/Online”: http://www.westernseminary.edu/students/online
Course Format
1. Course Audio/Video Materials.
Shortly after your course registration, you will receive instructions about how to download your course using the Integr@te program (not earlier than three weeks from your start date).
2. Learning Center.
You will also be given access to a web-based learning center which functions as your classroom for the course. There you will find:
· The course syllabus. Please Note: The syllabus in your learning center is the governing course syllabus. Syllabi downloaded from the seminary website, or received from any other source, are for informational purposes only.
· A week-by-week schedule to help you successfully complete the course on time with the least amount of stress. To discuss changing the assignment due dates within the schedule, please contact Jon Raibley:
· A progress report for each lesson, by which you will indicate whether you completed your lesson requirements. While still allowing great deal of scheduling flexibility, progress reports help us to help you if you begin to fall behind.
· Assignment summaries and links for uploading assignments.
· Links to discussion forums, your course instructor and other students, the distance learning support team, as well as links to other helpful communication and instructional resources.
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3. Responsibilities.
Before the end of the first week of the session, you need to log onto the online learning center to complete and upload the course affirmation file. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in courses for the full length of the course. So failure to complete the course affirmation on-time will result in a loss of course points and may impact your financial aid eligibility.
Students will receive on-time completion points for finishing their course work according to the schedule. This means students in the 8 week sessions are required to have all their course work into their course instructor by the end of week 7. Students in the 16 week sessions are required to have all their work into their course instructor by the end of week 15. If you have not been granted an extension, graded assignments turned in after 8:00 a.m. on Monday of the final week may be subject to a late penalty of up to 10% per day. No online completion points will be granted after that time.
4. Course Instructor.
You will be assigned a course instructor who will participate as appropriate in classroom activities; review, grade, and provide feedback on course assignments; and interact with you on any questions you have about the course. When you receive your course materials, you will also receive contact information for your course instructor. Please contact your course instructor within two weeks of your course start date and maintain regular contact throughout the course.
Assignments
1. Participation Requirements. For each lesson, complete the items as instructed in your learning center, and submit the progress report verifying that you’ve done so. These progress reports are our primary means of verifying your attendance, and each is worth up to one point toward your final grade. If the progress report is submitted by the due date on your course schedule, you’ll receive 100% of the report grade. If you submit the progress report late, but within two weeks of the due date, you will receive 80%. If you submit the progress report more than two weeks late, you will receive 50%. And, of course, if you fail to submit a progress report at all, you will receive 0%. Certain changes are allowed within the course schedule, to allow for flexibility. You may contact Jon Raibley for details: .
In addition, you are to complete three activities that will allow us to verify your participation at key points within the course, in compliance with federal regulations. Failure to complete these activities within the designated times may impact the amount or timing of federal financial aid you receive.
§ First week participation: Within the first week of the posted course dates, complete and upload the affirmation file.
§ On-time verification. By the date listed in the schedule, submit your final assignments and complete the verification assignment, to confirm that you finished the course work on time.
§ Course evaluation and reflection. Within the final week of the posted course dates, complete the course evaluation and reflection assignment; a link will be emailed to you at that time.
Points: points possible (42 for progress reports, 1 for affirmation file, 5 for on-time verification
2. Reading Response. You’ll write a response papers for your choice of two of the three text books. Each paper will be about 3-4 pages, double-spaced. In it, you might discuss:
· points at which you agree or disagree with the author and why
· the key principles you gained from the book, and ways in which you plan to apply them.
First reading response paper due by lesson 13
Second reading response paper due by lesson 18
Points: 50 points possible (25 points each)
Time: 6 hours estimated time
3. Discussion Forum. A discussion forum allows you to share your thoughts with, and receive feedback from, your course instructor and other students in the course. You’ll complete a total of 11 forum postings:
· For each of the 5 Survey Questions on the forum, answer the question in approximately 150-300 words (5 points possible each).
· For each of the Survey Questions, respond to another person’s answer, in about 50-100 words. You might share questions to clarify what they've written, personal illustrations of a point they've raised, additional thoughts on the items they’ve discussed, etc. (2 points possible each)
· Make a Principles Posting at the end of the course,in which you'll focus on application.In it, you'll identify fiveprinciples you've found in this course to help you personally build a strong family or help others do so, along with a specific plan for implementing one of these in your own life, or a report of how you have been implementing it in your life this semester. (15 points possible)
Time: 6 hours estimated discussion time.
Points: 50 points possible.
4. Marriage and Family: A Strategic Ministry Plan (6hrs).
Paper (5.5 hrs)
Write a 4 page paper comprehensive strategic ministry plan for marriage and family education in your church.
· Identifies key principles of gospel-centered marriages and families.
· Outlines specific church-wide strategies and goals that educate and equip the various life-stages of the church body about gospel-centered marriages and families.
· Includes education andsupport programs for marriages and families in the surrounding non-believing communities.
Oral Presentation (.5 hr)
Each student will present their Strategic Ministry Plan to the group by making a YouTube video and sharing a link on the ministry plan forum site. Instructions for doing this are on the learning center.
Points: 50 points possible.
Time: 6 hours estimated time
5. Course Project. Choose one of the following options:
A. Write an integrative paper, approximately 10-12 pages long, summarizing your understanding of the spirituality of family life and the ministerial implications of that understanding. Include references from assigned readings and relevant biblical texts, as well as a demonstration of your own critical insight.
B. Design a sermon series, adult Sunday school class, or counseling curriculum suitable to lead a church, small group, or individuals into a greater awareness of one aspect of the spirituality of family life. The sermon series or Sunday school plan should include at least five complete outlines of what would be discussed, together with detailed class notes (or manuscript), as well as your goals, your model of instruction, assigned readings, handouts, and all other relevant materials.
C. Choose a topic (in conjunction with the instructor) related to spirituality of family life (gender roles, sexuality, forgiveness, etc.); and write a 10-12 page integrative paper using class material as a background for an exploration of your particular topic. To adequately complete this task, you should read at least 2 additional books related to your topic, and integrate course material, the new reading, and original reflection into your final project.
Some suggested topics
· Pre-Marital Preparation
· Developing a Marriage Mentoring Ministry
· Developing Small Group Studies to Strengthen Marriages
· Equipping Christian Parents
· Marital Sexuality
· Confronting Pornography
· Exploring Gender Roles in Marriage and Family Life
· Divorce Recovery
· Preparing Couples to Face the Unique Challenges of Being Married on the Mission Field
· Conflict Resolution in the Home
· Supporting Single-Parent/Step/Adoptive Families
Points: 100 points possible.
Time: 22 hours estimated time
Grading Scale
A+ / A / A- / B+ / B / B-99-100% / 95-98% / 93-94% / 91-92% / 88-90% / 86-87%
C+ / C / C- / D+ / D / D-
84-85% / 81-83% / 79-80% / 77-78% / 74-76% / 70-73%
Assignment Summary
Assignment / Approx Hours / Points Possible / LessonDue
1. Participation Requirements / 20 / 42 / Each week
Media
Reading / 30
Policy Affirmation, On Time Verification, Course Evaluation
2. Reading Response Papers / 3
3 / 25
25 / Lesson 13,18
3. Discussion Forum (11 postings) / 6 / 50 / Per schedule
4. A Strategic Ministry Plan / 6 / 50 / Lesson 17
5. Course Project Paper / 22 / 100 / End date
Totals / 90 / 292
Course Sequence
Important: See the course schedule in the learning center for the due dates of your assignments.
8-Week / 16-Week / Lessons / Assignments & Notes1 / 1 / 1.Common Blessings, Familiar Miracles / (Progress Reports due for each lesson)
Read: Thomas, Chapters 1, 2, 3
2 / 2.God is in the Room
3. Al Mohler: Advice to Singles / Read: Thomas, Chapters 4, 5, 6
Discussion forum posting #1 due
2 / 3 / 4.Sacred Marriage
5.Sacred History / Read: Thomas, Chapters 7, 8, 9
Discussion forum posting response #1 due
4 / 6.The Silence of Adam
7.The Tyranny of Adam / Read: Thomas, Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13
Discussion forum posting set #2 due
3 / 5 / 8.Women and Transformation
9.Sexual Saints / Read: Rainey, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
Discussion forum posting response #2 due
6 / 10. Carolyn Mahaney: A Woman’s Beauty Regimen / Read: Rainey, Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8
Discussion forum posting set #3 due
4 / 7 / 11. Extravagant Love / Read: Rainey, Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12
Discussion forum posting response #3 due
8 / Read: Rainey, Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
5 / 9 / 12. Sacred Parenting
13. The Hardest Hurt of All / Read: Rainey, Chapters 21, 22
Discussion forum posting set #4 due
First Response Paper - due
10 / 14. The Christian Spirit / Read: Keller, Chapters 1, 2
Discussion forum posting response #4 due
6 / 11 / 15. Sacred Sacrifice
16. Falling Forward: the Blessing of Forgiveness / Read: Keller, Chapters 3, 4
Discussion forum posting set #5 due
12 / 17. The Larger Purpose of Family Life / Read: Keller, Chapters 5 ,6
Discussion forum posting response #5 due
A Strategic Ministry Plan - due
7 / 13 / 18. A Servant of Their Joy / Read: Keller, Chapters 7,8
Second Reading Response Paper - due
Discussion forum principle posting due
14 / Course Project - due
On-time Verification (16 week course, ok to submit in week 15).
8 / 15
16 / Course Evaluation and Reflection. If you have not been granted an extension, graded assignments turned in after 8:00 a.m. on Monday of the final week may be subject to a late penalty of up to 10% per day.
Course PolicieS
Attendance and Late Assignments: Student will receive on-time completion points for finishing their course according to the schedule. Students in the 8 week sessions are required to have all their course work into their course instructor by end of week 7. Students in the 16 week sessions are required to have all their work into their course instructor by end of week 15. If you have not been granted an extension, graded assignments turned in after 8:00 a.m. on Monday of the final week may be subject to a late penalty of up to 10% per day. No online completion points will be granted after that time.